New Zealand Waiving Passport Requirements Due to Earthquake CheapOair Staff February 24, 2011 general Travelers Await Evacuation Out of Chrischurch New Zealand is waiving passport requirements for travelers who may have misplaced their document due to the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the Christchurch region. The U.S. Embassy in Wellington is offering assistance to Americans traveling into the area, as well as help for any emergency. The Christchurch International Airport opened Wednesday but people are being asked to check with their airline to see if they are still operating flights to the location. According to the Chicago Tribune, 1,000 people have been relocated to Wellington and Auckland.